[COUGARMAMA]

The boys on the team are the only ones that really know what they went through last year. Some of them are just now telling about it. If the coaches attitude changes they might be able to turn it around. If the Supt. and the board member don't turn their backs on them in the middle of the season they might not feel so abandoned. There are a lot of "ifs" to be considered. Parents are having a hard time supporting coaches that didn't think parents should even be around them. All of this can change..I'm just not sure it will change anytime soon.

[lean&mean]

How many spring practices did LCC actually get in this year. I believe only 3 or 4, can someone tell for sure?

[gUrU]

GURU, you have got to be kidding do you know anything about football???? Some of those seniors should have crushed every thing in front of them but they didn't because they did not have any heart or dedication to play 100% but it is so easy to blame Mike, I was at just about every game and watched did you. In life do you think everybody is going to baby you??? You better get a clue, football is about building young men into someone that will not quit and give up when your down they step and give everything they got and some of those players did not do that and I guess you blame the coaching. Mike knows what he is doing and his record shows that, he has several D-1 players that has played for him. You are right about one thing Mike is not Larry. The last I herd that all the kids are working hard in the weight room and have never herd them talk bad about Mike. I was born and raised in Letcher and have seen alot of coaches come in go in my 55 years and last that I can recall is that we have only one Regional championship in the history of Letcher County football we have never been a football power house the way some of you all get on here and talk. We are not a Belfry, Bell they have history and what I mean by that is state titles. I support the Cougars and always will, give them time and they will get better. There numbers are down like only 35 that sucks. Over in Harlan they say they had about 90 out lifting weights. Cougars I hope you guys have a great season and I will be there to support you who ever is coaching go big blue.

MTNTOPBLUE....You are right I do not know a lot about the X's and O's of football. Yes I have been to every game since 2005, home and away. I have never asked anybody to 'baby' my son, I realize on the field is where they become men, this is why we played the game!! I also realize that on the field is where self esteem and confidence are built or beaten down. This is not the military it's high school football. I know that in the weight room is where confidence is gained. I know that they have to relate to the coach before they can give 100%. So I guess my opinion is that Mike may be a **** football genius, his assistants may have glorious ideas, but if they can't relate that to their players, they are useless. But they can brag on themselves, their own accomplishments, hence the D1 player that he happen to have coached. These players are accustom to change and deal well with it, they do not respond to the college style of coaching that this staff brings and it is NOT WORKING. Plain and simple.

[cherokee]

MTNTOPBLUE....You are right I do not know a lot about the X's and O's of football. Yes I have been to every game since 2005, home and away. I have never asked anybody to 'baby' my son, I realize on the field is where they become men, this is why we played the game!! I also realize that on the field is where self esteem and confidence are built or beaten down. This is not the military it's high school football. I know that in the weight room is where confidence is gained. I know that they have to relate to the coach before they can give 100%. So I guess my opinion is that Mike may be a **** football genius, his assistants may have glorious ideas, but if they can't relate that to their players, they are useless. But they can brag on themselves, their own accomplishments, hence the D1 player that he happen to have coached. These players are accustom to change and deal well with it, they do not respond to the college style of coaching that this staff brings and it is NOT WORKING. Plain and simple.

Everybody on here knows you know nothing about football you said it yourself, everybody knows you love Larry and not Mike,everybody knows little GuRu must had a bad year or one of the coaches tried too hard to motivate him and hurt his feelings. According to you your son was a senior, and in another post you talked about taking your son across the hill next year and wanted someone to car pool with you,if you are not crying you are a lying or being negative. You have even started posting under another name. You are not a real cougar fan, but a Larry man( I would love to see Larry on the cougar coaching staff again,but he's not). This ain't about football but a personal dislike of Mrs. Craft and the coaching staff so get over it, get behind this years team and support them no matter who the coach is if you are really a cougar fan.

[gUrU]

Cherokee- you can't reason with unreasonable childlike old people, maybe you'll get this. 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7

[Brooks4Prez]

How many spring practices did LCC actually get in this year. I believe only 3 or 4, can someone tell for sure?

Why did they not get all of them in?

[cougarpride08]

I was wondering the same thing.

[cherokee]

Cherokee- you can't reason with unreasonable childlike old people, maybe you'll get this. 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7 3&7

Maybe you can get this one guru or cougarama
1. worst team in the state according to the KHSAA
2. team that scored the least points of any team in the state 42 total
3. team that gave up a total of 541 points
4. team that didn't win a game 0-10 in 2010
5. team that in 2 years has record of 1-20
6. hint coach first name Larry
7. bonus question what school in the state would hire this coach for a head
coach right now with this resume: correct answer (nobody)
Yep Mike better watch out:lmao:

[gUrU]

Maybe you can get this one guru or cougarama
1. worst team in the state according to the KHSAA
2. team that scored the least points of any team in the state 42 total
3. team that gave up a total of 541 points
4. team that didn't win a game 0-10 in 2010
5. team that in 2 years has record of 1-20
6. hint coach first name Larry
7. bonus question what school in the state would hire this coach for a head
coach right now with this resume: correct answer (nobody)
Yep Mike better watch out:lmao:

Wow....feeling threatened are we????
1. How many players on the field of this 1A school, 48.
2. How many players quit, 0.
3. How many players played with 100% effort, 48.
4. How many days is the weight room open, 365
5. Bonus question, was the job for HC@LCC posted, NO

I want you to go and take a look at his record in 2 more years. He truly started from ground up. Mike walked in to an established program, with a winning record, and destroyed it. Same players, same parents, same community support, only change was coaching. Now I understand the 3&7, you guys were to involved in Maggard's stats to pay attention! Grow up, accept the fact that Letcher County does not agree with your family. Yep, the next town ya'll end up in better watch out.

[58fan]

Can anyone share what they consider would be some positives for the upcoming season?

[champ7]

Ok I have tried to stay out of this but here it is. I dont care who our head coach coach and his assistants are. The only thing you are doing on here is hurting our team for next year. Guys heck with the coaches these are our kids. I would support them if we never win another game. I love our kids and our program.

[Yogibear]

Can anyone share what they consider would be some positives for the upcoming season?

#1- Last season is over.

#2- Logan Johnson is back. Always a threat to score or throw a score.

[champ7]

Yes I can we got a great group of kids back next year. Alot of people dont understand we had alot of kids hurt early in the season last year. We had kids playing in positions last year that they never played before it affected our team. We lost two great players Sam Sergent and Ryan Hall last year.

[gUrU]

You have a great group of young men returning who are hard workers with a lot of determination. This group of boys are used to winning, they like winning, but most of all they hate losing. You'll have great leadership in Logan, Drew, Sid, and Boggs. Moore and Blair are gonna bring a grit to this line like we've never seen before. Stewart is gonna shine this year. You have a parent support chain that is unrelenting and will work hard to provide for this team. They have a lot of fight left in them and I've always heard that if it's worth having, it's worth fighting for.

[58fan]

I believe a whole lot depends on the line.....It can be really good if they can find someone to move to center which would allow Blair to move to either guard or tackle. Knight may be able to play center which would allow this. Fields continued development into a lineman along with a lineman's attitude would make the line a very solid unit. It is rumored the new defensive coordinator likes a three or five man front, this would also allow the lineman to show their toughness. If the line does not develop it does not matter how good Logan can be.

[bac2369]

Does anyone know if the sizemore kid that is coaches nefew transfered to hazard or not? I seen where no one has answered that yet.

[Paul Crewe]

Must be TOP SECRET info. I hear from Hazard side, that it is going to happen.
No news from Letcher side of things.

[cougarpride08]

Hopefully Coach Whitaker feels a little pressure from the community, and hopefully the school board, and do a whole lot better taking care of his players and the boosters that work so hard last year. Passing league will show if anyone comes out.

[Lambert #1]

Not top secret with the community. I have heard this since back in October but no confirmation from the high school yet so I guess it's just rumor until it happens. I did hear that Whitaker told someone close to the program that if his mom gets a job in the Hazard system it's a done deal though, once again I guess that's a rumor.

[Lambert #1]

Guru,
I agree with you completely. I know the parental support is in place to win right now and the booster program is willing to do anything that Mike wants them to do. The boys that are in place knows how to win and definitely hate losing so I hope they can get it turned around so another group of seniors don't have to go out the way this year's group went out. Leadership will be the key to this season's outcome, there are several kids that can be great leaders and role models for the younger kids and if they lead the way I hope they do I think we will see a few more W's in the the win/loss column this year.

[cougarpride08]

I just hope you are right Lambert#1. The only reason you are getting booster help right now if because it is for the kids. I really hope what ever happened last year is left behind us, and also I hope that it teaches all parties a lesson on how quickly a great program can crumble and crash in one season. Go Cougars and can't wait until August.

[charlie22]

Guru,
I agree with you completely. I know the parental support is in place to win right now and the booster program is willing to do anything that Mike wants them to do. The boys that are in place knows how to win and definitely hate losing so I hope they can get it turned around so another group of seniors don't have to go out the way this year's group went out. Leadership will be the key to this season's outcome, there are several kids that can be great leaders and role models for the younger kids and if they lead the way I hope they do I think we will see a few more W's in the the win/loss column this year.

The question is: can that parental support and booster support be provided without trying to tell the coach how to coach and run the team? Not being familiar with the situation in Letcher County, I don't know that answer. But I do know that parents and supporters publicly criticizing a coach is detrimental, not beneficial, most of the time.

If this Whittaker fellow is a terrible coach as some have stated, then parents and supporters need to complain to the administration and then stop. If the administration isn't going to take action, nothing's going to change anyway, so why make it tougher on the kids and the program than it already is?

I've never understood why people want to air out their dirty laundry in public. Dissent from within; never to the outside.

[cougarpride08]

You being from Highlands know exactly how a program is run. Beautifully said!

[Paul Crewe]

No disrespect intended....Let a new coach come into Highlands and go 3-7 with all the drama (from the coach and community).....then lets see what many will do and say.

[cougarpride08]

When was the last time Highlands won just three games?

[lean&mean]

Why did they not get all of them in?

Do not know why....I think they only had three maybe four actual practices. Actually counted the football banquet as a practice....

[charlie22]

No disrespect intended....Let a new coach come into Highlands and go 3-7 with all the drama (from the coach and community).....then lets see what many will do and say.

No disrespect taken.

While not 3-7, Highlands did go 7-5 a few years back, which is way below the expectations of the community and supporters. I'm sure there were some people in the community that had their thoughts and complaints about coaching decisions (heck, I may have been one of them :biggrin but they weren't aired publicly (and certainly not on message boards that players can read); and the coaches and players weren't criticized. Rather, the supporters realized that the coaches and players were hurting more than anyone so they needed support. Team stuck together and while they got beat in the playoffs to CovCath, team chemistry remained strong and the coaching staff stayed together. The next year they went 15-0 winning state. I fervently believe that would have not happened if the team had been pulled apart the prior year by fans criticizing the players and coaches. Keeping a coaching staff together is one of the most important factors in establishing and maintaining a successful program. Start second guessing and publicly criticizing coaches, and coaches will not stick around.

Just give this guy some time (like 3 or 4 years).

[Brooks4Prez]

Do not know why....I think they only had three maybe four actual practices. Actually counted the football banquet as a practice....

That program will not win until they actually WORK in the weight room and on the practice field. Sounds to me like nobody wants to win at Letcher Central (as far as the staff) or at least not as much as most of their opponents.

[cougarpride08]

If I am not mistaken Highlands has a lot of weight lifting the week after they won state. That is the kind of dedication that any school needs to push.

[58fan]

Hard work is the key. This begins with the coaching staff setting an example and the boys developing a mind set they never want to go through what they did last year. Key players this year in so certain order and I hope I do not leave anyone out. Johnson, Stewart, Bentley, Fields, and Blair.